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40 EASTERN HORIZON | BOOK REVIEW

BOOK REVIEW BOOK REVIEW

live out on the street. But Haolin had a very small place responsibilities. Master Xuyun said, “While the business
without much income. When I lived there, it was an of spreading Buddha’s teachings is like flowers in the
added burden on him. If he was wealthy and had a big sky, we ought to conduct them at all times. Although
place I would have felt differently about imposing on his places for the practice [monasteries, retreat centers] are
hospitality. like the reflection of the moon in the water [referring
to the fact that they are illusory and impermanent], we
I think that being out on the streets was a good thing, establish them wherever we go.” This means that these
because it taught me not to rely on anyone and pushed jobs are illusory, but we still need to do them. Sentient
me to find my own place to propagate Chan. There is a beings are illusory, but we still need to help deliver them.
long tradition of bodhisattvas enduring difficulties as A place of practice is like the reflection of the moon in
they spread the dharma. Shakyamuni Buddha taught the water. It’s not real, but we still build monasteries so
that to be a great practitioner, a bodhisattva, you do we can deliver sentient beings. This is our responsibility.
not look toward your own happiness and security. You We must try our best to fulfill our responsibilities,
only wish for sentient beings to cease suffering. In without being attached to success and failure.
India, Buddhist monks had to travel to areas without
Buddhism, and they would inevitably encounter Chan masters apply the mind of equanimity in all
resistance. When they arrived in China, Confucianism aspects of their lives. If they don’t, they are not truly
and Taoism were dominant, and the Confucians wanted Chan masters. In my time of wandering, I kept a mind
to keep the Buddhists out, especially the monastics. of equanimity. I didn’t think of myself as homeless. I
Shakyamuni Buddha believed that if you could thought of Master Hanshan [1546–1623], who lived
withstand difficulties, you would be able to inspire on Tiantai Mountain. He used the sky as his roof, the
others and thus influence them. Ordinary people just earth as his bed, the cloud as covers, a rock as a pillow,
want life to be smooth, without problems. But Buddhist and the stream as his bathtub. He ate vegetables if
practitioners have a different attitude. They are ready vegetables were available. If rice and vegetables were
to endure many difficulties if they are in the service of available in a monastery, he ate that. If nothing was
transforming others. available, he ate tree leaves or roots. He felt free and
wrote beautiful poems.
HOW DO WE endure hardship? Master Mazu taught
that it is necessary to have a mind of equanimity. This Beneath high cliffs I live alone
means always maintaining a calm, stable mind, which swirling clouds swirl all day
is not ruled by emotion. When you encounter success, inside my hut it might be dim
you don’t think that you created it. Don’t get too but in my mind I hear no noise
excited or proud of yourself. Your success happened I passed through a golden gate in a dream
for a reason and came to pass because of many people my spirit returned when I crossed a stone bridge
and circumstances. If you work hard at something I left behind what weighted me down
but find that too many obstacles prevent you from my dipper on a branch click clack
accomplishing it, you may have to give up. In that case,
you shouldn’t get depressed. Conditions aren’t right. When you have nothing, you are free. When you own
Perhaps this will change, perhaps it won’t. You are not a something, then you are bound to your possessions.
failure. Becoming upset only causes suffering. I felt very happy. I did not feel that I had no future. In
fact, I felt my future was rich and great indeed because
To be a great practitioner, you do not look toward your I had students. I still had a mission to fulfill. I just did
own happiness and security. not know where I would sleep at night. I knew that I
was much better off than homeless people, who really
Keeping a mind of equanimity, though, does not mean did not have anything and were without a future. And I
being inactive or passive. You still need to fulfill your knew that I would not wander forever.